How the FIFA World Cup is bringing a pan-African vibe to life in Toronto

Africa is leaving a colourful mark on Canadian soccer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In Vancouver, Egyptian legend Mohamed Salah helped the Pharaohs to their first-ever World Cup win Sunday, then celebrated on the West Coast city’s streets with members of the Egyptian diaspora.

But the energy may be strongest in Toronto, where two African teams have already graced the Toronto Stadium’s soccer pitch with energetic, captivating football and a vibrant atmosphere.

The party isn’t over yet. Senegal plays Iraq in Toronto on Friday, and the city could also host an African nation in a Round of 32 match on July 2, depending on where Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo finish in their groups.

Both teams are in action today: Ghana plays England in Boston Stadium at 4 p.m. ET, while DR Congo takes on Colombia at 10 p.m. ET.

Ghana already played a game in Toronto on June 15, beating Panama 1-0 in front of thousands of fervent supporters.

Near the media tribune where I sat, a large contingent of Ghana fans spent the entire game dancing, chanting and passionately reacting to every pass, every play — and the game’s only goal.

“We’re happy because we do see that a lot of people are excited when Ghana are at the World Cup, because of that vibe that we bring,” said Brandon Thomas-Asante, who assisted Caleb Yirenkyi’s winner against Panama.

For Toronto’s African communities, the tournament offers a rare chance to watch some of the continent’s top teams play in a World Cup close to home.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Akwasi Osei-Tutu, who was heading to the Ghana-Panama game after wrapping up work in downtown Toronto.

‘A world in one city’

Despite being outnumbered by German supporters, Ivory Coast fans brought plenty of energy to Saturday’s match — especially after Franck Kessié scored to give his team a surprising 1-0 lead.

Fans of the West African side followed the team closely in the buildup, waving the players off from their hotel before kickoff. They also surrounded the players as they picked up pastries from Toronto’s Dacasto Gran Pasticceria on Friday.

Ivory Coast fan Yannick Logbo said there is a large, “electric” Ivory Coast fanbase in Ontario, with many meeting at the fan zone in Milton.

Days earlier, Ghanaian fans brought the traditional jama to the city, an upbeat musical genre common in Ghana.

Emmanuel Adjei, a Canadian-Ghanaian who came from Brampton, Ont., to watch Ghana play Panama with his family, has enjoyed the atmosphere the World Cup has brought.

“We’re always used to just one side of the globe going to the World Cup. So just to have all these different kinds of flavours and, like, African stuff represented just feels amazing,” he said.

Toronto’s Sankofa Square also hosted The Global Kickoff, a two-day Pan-African festival and showcase created to welcome local communities and World Cup travellers to the city.

WATCH | Fans gather in Sankofa Square to watch Ghana-Panama:

Soccer fans gather in Sankofa Square to watch 2nd Toronto FIFA World Cup game

World Cup energy builds in Toronto as fans pack Sankofa Square for the city’s second FIFA World Cup match, Ghana vs. Panama. CBC’s Greg Ross speaks with excited fans.

Akua Mensah, the event organizer and program director, said the festival’s goal was to “get people excited for all of the African teams that are playing here in the city this week.”

Elle de Lyon, the media and communications lead for The Global Kickoff, said Africans across the continent — including some from countries that didn’t qualify for the tournament — attended the festival.

“That’s the beauty of Toronto, right? That goes back to how exciting and important it was for the World Cup to come to the city, because we are a world in one city,” Mensah said.

More opportunities for Africa

This FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32 teams in the previous tournament.

This expanded format has given more opportunities for African countries to play for the World Cup.

“I think in the past we had … five African teams, but now it’s a total of 10,” said Ghanaian fan Joseph Osei-Bonsu. “It’s been long overdue that we’ve had this type of representation in the World Cup.”

Africa previously had one of the most difficult qualifying routes.

For the 2022 World Cup, 54 African teams competed across multiple rounds for just five spots. That left top countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Nigeria out of the tournament.

Three of those four teams qualified this year, taking advantage of the nine automatic places now alotted to Africa. DR Congo later joined them by winning its inter-confederation playoff against Jamaica, bringing the continent’s total to 10 representatives.

“And we saw what DR Congo did … against Portugal [tying 1-1],” Osei-Bonsu said. “Cape Verde were able to pull off one of the shocks, massive shocks [tying Spain 0-0].”

Thomas-Asante, who was born in England, says it’s a beautiful thing to see so many African talents light up the World Cup.

“There’s been a lot of talent that has been snapped up by the normally, quote-unquote, bigger nations, in football terms. So I feel like I’m really proud that we’re seeing people proud to represent their home nations,” he said.

“[To] see that materialize into being present at World Cups in large capacity and large numbers … I think that’s only going to improve world football really.”

An African World Cup win?

An African country has never won the World Cup, although Morocco came close in 2022, losing to France in the semifinals.

De Lyon hopes that changes this year.

“If any country in Africa takes it home, I am happy about that,” she said.

For some of the players though, it’s enough to represent their country — and Africa — on the world’s biggest stage.

“Basically, our goal is to just do our best and then make a lot of people proud,” Ghana’s Yirenkyi said.